Bidspirit auction | Mishlei Shu'alim, the Famous Work

Mishlei Shu'alim, the Famous Work by Rabbi Berechiah HaNakdan. Berlin, 1756. - Mishlei Shu'alim by the distinguished sage Rabbi Berechiah HaNakdan, printed for the second time in a particularly elegant edition in the holy community of Berlin, 1756. Mishlei Shu'alim is a collection of fables composed and compiled by Rabbi Berechiah ben Natronai HaNakdan in the 13th century. Some of the fables appear in earlier sources. The collection contains 107 fables, in which the fox is portrayed as a cunning creature from whose behavior man may derive moral lessons. The title page features an illustration of two foxes. Rabbi Berechiah ben Natronai HaNakdan (also known as Rabbi Cresbiahu HaNakdan) lived and worked during the second half of the 12th century, and perhaps into the 13th century. He was a grammarian and vocalization expert, an author and translator, primarily translating works from French into Hebrew. He lived and worked in France, England, or Normandy. His most famous work is Mishlei Shu'alim, a collection of fables and moral sayings written in verse. Owner's signature of Rabbi Gedaliah HaLevi of Rawicz. Ownership inscription and signature on the front endpaper. On the final leaf appears the stamp of Rabbi Yechezkel Werschner of Zurich. Additional inscriptions appear on the title page and on the final leaf. Rabbi Yehoshua Yechezkel (Theobald) ben Rabbi Yaakov Yehudah Werschner (1907–1995) was born in Samter (Szamotuły, Poland) and later immigrated to Zurich, Switzerland. He studied and taught in Torah and Mussar yeshivot and was a disciple of Rabbi Yerucham Levovitz zt”l, the Mashgiach of the Mir Yeshivah. 61 leaves. 16 cm. Good to very good condition. Simple binding. The front endpaper is detached and secured with transparent adhesive tape. Aging stains.